European Cenozoic Rift System

The European cenozoic rift system is a series of elongated geological depression in the earth. Located in western Europe, it extends from the western Mediterranean to the North Sea for about 1,500 km, in an almost south-north direction. To the south, under the waters of the Mediterranean Sea, the Gulf of Lyon and the Valencia trough is a continuation of the European cenozoic rift system. In its onshore part, from south to north, it includes the Rhone depression, the Limagne, Bresse, and Saone grabens (elongated troughs), the Upper Rhine graben and the Leine graben.

The European cenozoic rift system began to form during the middle Eocene about 40 million years ago in its central part (southern Upper Rhine graben). Let's remember that the Eocene is the second epoch of the Terciary period. Then this system quickly extended to the south and north. It was locally accompany by strong volcanic activities. Thus, it evolved in the Alpine foreland, with the late phases of the Alpine orogeny.

Below, a map showing part of the European cenozoic rift system. The main grabens are in dark grey. The volcanic areas are marked in black. The numbers tell you the Moho depth in km.